Ephesians 2: Chosen in Christ, Together in Christ, & Walking in Christ

Transcription

1 Ephesians 2:10-13 Chosen in Christ, Together in Christ, & Walking in Christ Intro: Our passage speaks of something that normally relates to an artist May 22, Joke: a. An artist asked the gallery owner if there had been any interest in his paintings on display in his shop. b. "I have good news and bad news," the owner replied. 1) "The good news is that a gentleman inquired about your work and wondered if it would appreciate in value after your death. 2) When I told him it would, he bought all 15 of your paintings." c. "That's wonderful," the artist exclaimed. "What's the bad news?" d. "The guy was your doctor..." 2. Another one a. Why did God create man before woman? 1) Because you're always supposed to have a rough draft before creating your masterpiece. b. In our passage today Paul helps us to understand God s masterpiece. Let s look at our passage: Read Ephesians 2:10-13 (NKJV) 1 and Pray i 1. Theme in Ephesians: We are Chosen in Christ, Together in Christ, Walking in Christ. a. Our passage continues with the theme, We are Chosen in Christ. 2. In today s passage, we ll also see that a. We are God s Masterpiece created for Good Works. 1 Unless otherwise marked, all scripture references taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 1

2 2 Reread Ephesians 2:8-9 Ephesians 2: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 1. Yet another in Christ statement by Paul. a. We have been saved by grace and are now in Christ! 2. The word workmanship comes from the original Greek word ποίημα (poiema) the same word from which we get our modern word POEM. a. The idea is that we are God s beautiful poem. 3. This word ποίημα (poiema) is also sometimes translated as Masterpiece. a. Defiled by sin, we were ugly wretched creatures headed for hell. 1) But God, (verse 4 above tells us) who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. b. More than just making us alive, here in verse 10 we have become His workmanship, his masterpiece. 4. I found some amazing Etch-A-Sketch draws of classic art masterpieces. a. Mona Lisa, Starry Night by van Gogh, another piece (not sure the name) 1) And Michelangelo s work. 5. The Sistine Chapel ceiling was painted by Michelangelo. a. To reach the chapel's ceiling, Michelangelo designed his own scaffold, a flat wooden platform on brackets built out from holes in the wall near the top of the windows, rather than being built up from the floor. b. At the outset the plaster began to grow mold because it was too wet. Michelangelo had to remove it and start again. c. He painted standing up which created great physical pain and misery. d. It took him 4 years to complete that work. 1) Truly a masterpiece! 2) But masterpieces don t happen overnight.

3 3 Repeat: Ephesians 2:10 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 1. God saves a soul and changes a life. a. In the life of a believer God s grace is an activator for good works. 1) Volcano Science project Baking Soda and Vinegar. 2) Dry Ice Bomb 2 ltr bottle, water, dry ice. 3) Cup of Coffee in the midafternoon. b. Grace of God in the life of the yielded believer is an activator that produces good works. c. Has the Spirit of God activated good works in your life? 2. What are good works in the life of a believer? a. Giving of your time, talents and treasure toward the purposes of God and not just toward your own desires or pursuits. b. Olympics Gold Medalist Eric Liddell The Flying Scotsman Many know him from the film Chariots of Fire. 1) He was born in 1902 in North China to Scottish missionaries. a) Returned to a boys boarding school south of London for sons of missionaries. b) Despite being both the rugby and cricket team captains, Liddell was described as entirely without vanity. c) Liddell became well known for being the fastest runner in Scotland while at Oxford College. 2) Here was a man whose good works glorified God. 3) He qualified for the Olympics, but due to his religious convictions he would not participate in his best event, the 100m dash because it was scheduled on a Sunday. a) Instead he trained to run the 400m race, which was not held on a Sunday, but in this event Liddell was not particularly great. 3

4 4 b) On the day of the race Liddell went to the starting blocks, where an American Olympic Team member (a masseur) slipped a piece of paper into his hand with a quotation from 1 Samuel 2:30: "Those who honor me I will honor." c) He broke the Olympic and world records with a time of 47.6 seconds and won the Gold. 4) After the Olympics he returned to China and stayed there through WWII and died at 43 in a Japanese internment camp. Ephesians 2:11a 11 Therefore remember 1. Remembering is an important theme throughout the Bible. a. That word is found 229 throughout the Bible. b. Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, I have no pleasure in them c. Psalm 105:5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth, 2. Our relationship with the Lord includes the mind. a. If it didn t include the mind, Paul would say, Forget about everything b. Many cults and false religions hinge on convincing their followers to forget everything and just follow the group s leader. 1) But Christianity isn t based on blind faith. 2) That s why Paul wants you to remember. 3. Remember what it was like back in your B.C. days your Before Christ days. a. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. b. Remember what the old life was like, especial in comparison to your new life in Christ. c. As I think back I can see how God has changed me and been at work for my Good and His Glory. 4

5 5 1) It hasn t always been easy, but as I remember I know that Romans 8:28 is true a) Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 4. If you have not done so lately I encourage you to take time to remember what the Lord has done! a. This helps to product a thankful and worshipful heart. Define a few terms: Gentiles 1. Any person or group who are not Jews. 2. Understand the attitude regarding Gentiles. a. Gentiles were considered unclean. As a Jew, if you touched a Gentile you would become unclean. 1) But had grown to distain all Gentiles with a type of racial prejudice of varying degrees. b. What does that look like today? 1) Perhaps to a degree it s like the racism that African American s experience. 2) Or now the prejudice that Americans of Arab decent are experiencing. c. What s important to understand is that in Paul s day the distinction between Jew and Gentile was great. the Circumcision 1. It is related to the medical procedure where the male foreskin is cut away. a. God commanded that all male Jews be circumcised. b. In a broader sense, the phrase the Circumcision came to refer to those in a relationship with God. 5

6 6 covenants of promise 1. This refers to the promises God made to the Nation of Israel and the Jewish people specifically in the Old Testament. a. Notably God promised this group of people the land of Israel, which they still have to this day. 2. As New Testament believers we have received a different promise: a. John 14:2 3 2 In My Father s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. Ephesians 2:11 (NLT) 11 Don t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called uncircumcised heathens by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 1. The Israelites proudly considered themselves God s chosen people. a. Over time the Israelites began to look down on any Gentiles and hatred began to set in with both groups. b. Jews began to hate Gentiles Gentiles reciprocated the sentiment. 1) This created a cycle that would keep repeating itself. 2) The Cycle of Hate: a) Offender: Believe & Judge, Act/Mistreat, Hate how I feel, but justify it b) Offended: Offended/hurt, hate how they are treated, respond in kind, hate how they feel, but justify. c) REPEAT. 3) To break the hatred cycle: a) Begin by putting Christ in the middle of the situation. b) Exercise Faith. c) Stop Judging 6

7 7 d) Pray e) Act in Love f) You have peace. g) REPEAT, regardless of how the other person acts. 2. While God did chose the Israelites, a group of unworthy people through whom He was going to show off His great love, grace, and mercy a. God s desire has always been that His people would follow Him from their hearts. Ephesians 2:12 (NLT) 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 1. J.V. McGee, The Gentile had no God given religion as had Israel. They had no right to go back in the Old Testament and take the promises which God made to Israel and then appropriate them for themselves. We don t have that right either. God didn t make those promises to us. 2. To live apart from Christ means to be Without light, peace, or rest a. Without hope, spiritual blessings, or security b. Without a Prophet, Priest, or King 3. Paul tells them, You lived in this world without God and without hope. a. This a condition because sinful man has removed himself from God. Ephesians 2:13 NKJV 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 (NLT) 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. 7

8 8 1. The point of Christ s blood is not for gore, but to emphasize the great lengths He went to save us because of His great love for us. a. We have access to God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. b. The only way to be brought near is by the blood of Christ. c. Have you accepted Conclusion: 1. In today s passage we saw that b. We are God s Masterpiece created for Good Works. 2. What was once termed Australia s biggest mistake is now hailed as its greatest masterpiece. a. The original cost estimate announced in 1957 to build this structure was $7.2 million. 1) It over about 15 years to construct. 2) The final cost in 1973 at its completion was over $110 million. 3) That cost blowout, of 1400 per cent, makes this structure the most expensive cost blowout in the history of megaprojects around the world, according to Danish economic geographer Bent Flyvbjerg. b. It has turned into one of Australia s most valuable national assets. c. It now has over 1500 performances a year in its large multi-complex facility. 1) The Sydney Opera House a) It is now home to an opera, ballet, theater, and orchestra. 2) The Opera House adds $775 million to the Australian economy every year in direct ticket sales, retail and food spending. d. The Sydney Opera House is now Australia s National Masterpiece. 1) Concerning this unique structure, the state premier of New South Wales said: The cost has become a secondary consideration to the perfection of the achievement. 8

9 9 3. In a similar way, the cost to purchase you and I was extremely expensive a. It cost Christ His life through His shed blood. 4. Maybe you feel like a mess and nothing comes easy. a. Or maybe you wrestle with self-worth and self-acceptance. b. Maybe no one told you they loved you. 1) Perhaps you just don t feel good enough, even when people are telling you that they love you. 2) Perhaps like the Sydney Opera House during its construction you feel out of control, overspent, like you will never make it to the finish-line, like your life is a nightmare and disaster. c. Paul wants you to know that you already are God s Masterpiece of you have put your faith in Him. 1) Remember who you were and what s He s doing 2) He is going to make you into something beautiful, valuable, and wonderful to behold. 5. Let s allow God s Spirit to activate more good works in your life for His Glory. i The following people and commentaries were used in preparing these notes: Life Application Bible, ESV Study Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, D. Guzik, J. Courson, J.V. McGee 9